Police arrest four people who smashed, vandalized their way through neighborhood in ‘peaceful protest’

Richmond, Virginia – Four people were said to have been arrested after protests morphed into riots (big shocker there) on August 11^th in Richmond.

According to Richmond Police, the four arrested were said to have engaged in said riot by way of smashing windows and vandalizing property in several neighborhoods.

#Antifa Four charged in overnight Richmond riot that left several buildings damaged; courthouse closed again Thursday https://t.co/5snBpXzDxm

— Skylady (@Skylady1963) August 13, 2020

The four people that were charged with rioting were identified as Julius Dela Cruz, Lakshmi Menon, Kyra Nguyen and Brian Quach.

Brian Quach – Richmond Police

According to a press release by the RPD, the following was stated about the suspects charged with rioting:

“On Tuesday night a group of individuals broke windows and damaged and defaced property in several neighborhoods in the city of Richmond.

At approximately 11:50 p.m., officers detained several individuals. The Department consulted with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney on possible charges and charged four.”

Julius Dela Cruz – Richmond Police

The foursome of alleged rioters was said to be in possession of paint, hammers, crowbars, and other materials used to aid in the destruction of property.

Lakshmi Menon – Richmond Police

Also, unsurprisingly, a helmet was reportedly seized that was adorned with “FTP” on the side (a common acronym meaning “fuck the police”).

Kyra Nguyen – Richmond Police

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney remarked on the damage done during the evening of the 11^th, pointing out how the John Marshall Courts Building was among many buildings targeted by vandals:

“The vandalism of our court’s building and downtown businesses last night was unacceptable and misguided. Those working peacefully for change are welcome here.

Those intent on creating chaos and confrontation, who riot and commit violence against our community, will go to jail. Period.”

RIGHT NOW: Damage to John Marshall Courthouse in #Richmond following violent protests tonight. #NBC12 pic.twitter.com/4wMlTgikHX

— Brent Solomon (@solomonreports) August 12, 2020

The mayor stated that the group behind the riots goes by the name “Richmond Strike”, which managed to target not only the court building but also local businesses like a Starbucks, Wells Fargo branch and the Omni hotel.

Of course, while these four were charged with rioting, if they were in Portland, Oregon then they’d not even have to worry about criminal prosecution.

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After going on around 70-some-odd days of violent protests and riots in Portland, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt decided the best move to do was to actually stop prosecuting certain crimes committed during these riots.

BREAKING: Multnomah Co. DA announces his office will decline to prosecute certain protest-related charges https://t.co/fGqn0Cad1s pic.twitter.com/tWwUpRTGZ3

— Fox12Oregon (@fox12oregon) August 11, 2020

In a new policy announced on August 11^th, DA Schmidt stated that in order to “promote a safe community” and “reduce the negative and lasting impacts” of an arrest record – people doing illegal things during the riots need to stop getting prosecuted.

According to the DA, the rationale for changing what does and does not get prosecuted is the following:

“If we leverage the full force of the criminal justice system on individuals who are peacefully protesting and demanding to be heard, we will cause irreparable harm to them individually and to our society.

“The prosecution of people exercising their rights to free speech and assembly in a non-violent manner takes away from the limited resources that we have to prosecute serious crimes and to assist crime victims.”

Well, lets examine what these “non-violent” charges would be that would no longer get prosecuted:

• Interfering with a peace officer or parole and probation officer
• Second-degree disorderly conduct
• First and second-degree criminal trespass
• Third-degree escape
• Harassment
• Riot (Unless accompanied by a charge outside of this list)

Oh, and in the event someone during a riot gets charged with resisting arrest, the DA’s office said they’ll take into consideration the “chaos of a protesting environment” when deciding whether to prosecute or not.

Now, let’s look at this first charge that DA Schmidt will no longer prosecute, that being interfering with a police officer as defined by Oregon state law. This means that someone can prevent police from fulfilling their lawful duties and not get into any trouble…like maybe creating a barricade not allowing officers to arrest a criminal.

Some details of the new protest policy that DA Mike Schmidt is announcing right now: https://t.co/ncHP2kcpxW pic.twitter.com/sS6TTpH42y

— KOIN News (@KOINNews) August 11, 2020

Not only that, but this now creates a free pass for people to willingly disobey lawfully given orders. Because that also falls under ORS 162.247.

As for second-degree disorderly conduct, now people won’t get in legal trouble for blocking traffic, yelling “fire” in an apartment building, engages in “fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior,” and many other forms of disorderly conduct.

And really? Criminal trespass in the first and second degree are now freebies too? That means when someone is lawfully told to leave a premises that they don’t own (say for instance, protesters invade your yard), no legal consequences will arise if they refuse to leave your property.

Harassment has to be one of the more absurd ones not going to be prosecuted either – because that means someone can subject “such other person to offensive physical contact,” or be allowed to berate someone in public and follow them around while doing so.

Rioting, which is a felony, will only get prosecuted if the alleged offender did something else illegal that wasn’t any of the aforementioned. Rioting is illegal for a reason, just like third-degree escape from police custody.

People have no been given the proverbial “okay” to riot in Portland and then escape from police custody and not get prosecuted.

But the madness doesn’t stop there.

So long as a rioter “only” commits a crime, whether felony or misdemeanor, during a protest that causes financial loss…they can have their cases dismissed if they pay restitution or abide by other outlines delineated by the DA’s office.

Here are the charges where people can have their criminal cases magically vanish if they abide by the court’s requests:

• Second and third-degree criminal mischief – when the value is under $1,000
• First, second and third-degree theft – when the value is under $1,000 or when the theft is committed during a riot
• Second-degree burglary if combined with any criminal mischief or theft allegation

While the police department and the DA’s office said they won’t tolerate any violence toward police officers or other people in the community, they’re practically turning a blind eye to the menacing crowds that are terrorizing residents in Portland.

Pure, unadulterated madness.

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